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AL: Summary of the state of the state address

02/06/2009

Boasting an economy more stable than most, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) focused on maintaining a small and thrifty government, while promoting job growth, ethics reform and education.

AR: Summary of the state of the state address

01/14/2009

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe (D) challenged lawmakers to expand social services and increase funding for education despite the recession, saying the state’s careful budgeting in the past has put it on better financial footing than other states.

AK: Summary of the state of the state address

01/27/2009

Back to the business of running Alaska after a failed bid for vice president, Republican Gov. Sarah Palin announced a state hiring freeze and called for a 7 percent cut in state expenses. In her Jan. 22 address to the state’s politically split legislature, Palin stressed the need to develop The Last Frontier’s vast energy resources while developing a more diverse economy.

AZ: Summary of the state of the state address

01/14/2009

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano's last state of the state speech amounted to a farewell. She is set to join President Barack Obama's Cabinet as director of Homeland Security.

CA: Summary of the state of the state address

01/21/2009

With California only weeks away from running out of money and issuing IOUs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vowed not to pursue any new policies until the state budget crisis is resolved.

CO: Summary of the state of the state address

01/12/2009

Acknowledging Colorado faces “tough choices,” Gov. Bill Ritter (D) voiced his commitment to clean energy production and education as ways to bolster the state’s economy.

CT: Summary of the state of the state address

01/08/2009

After a year of belt-tightening, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) warned that more cuts are in store as the state grapples with the national recession. “The sacrifices will not be easy or painless,” Rell said in her Jan. 7 state of the state address to the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

FL: Summary of the state of the state address

03/18/2009

Facing a $5 billion deficit and unemployment at a 16-year high, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) March 3 called on lawmakers to put partisanship aside and quickly use the billions of dollars from the federal stimulus plan as “a bridge to better economic times.”

GA: Summary of the state of the state address

01/23/2009

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) called for a $1.2 billion stimulus package, to be funded by bonds, to pay for building projects that he estimates would create 20,000 construction jobs.

HI: Summary of the state of the state address

01/29/2009

Calling for a reduction in wages and benefits for some state workers, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle asked Hawaii’s Democratic-controlled Legislature to tighten its fiscal belt while paving the way to greater energy and food independence.

IA: Summary of the condition of the state address

01/22/2009

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D) focused on two major challenges during his annual condition of the state address Jan. 13: recovering from devastating floods this summer and dealing with a national fiscal crisis which belatedly hit Iowa last year.

ID: Summary of the state of the state address

01/14/2009

Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Legislature received a shock when Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter (R) announced Jan. 12 that he would seek to cut K-12 education funding by more than 5 percent as part of efforts to trim state spending amid a bleak budget picture.

IL: Summary of the state of the state address

04/07/2009

While the Illinois General Assembly greeted newly installed Gov. Pat Quinn (D) warmly at his joint state of the state and budget address March 18, Quinn knew his budget would be a tough sell with an agenda that included hiking the state income tax by 50 percent.

IN: Summary of the state of the state address

01/22/2009

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) challenged lawmakers to spend state money more wisely and not to raise taxes as they write a new budget for tough economic times. But Daniels also reminded legislators Indiana’s problems were minor compared to those of other states.

KS: Summary of the state of the state address

01/15/2009

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), facing a projected $186 million shortfall in the current budget, delivered the grim message that she would have to propose eliminating programs, closing buildings and freezing government hiring but would try to protect education, health care and some social services.

KY: Summary of the state of the state address

02/13/2009

Less than a week after devastating snow and ice storms shut down power and cut off drinking water across Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) presented his plans for erasing the state’s $456 million budget shortfall while praising relief workers.

LA: Summary of the state of the state address

05/22/2009

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's (R) address to open the legislative session April 28 was short on specifics, but he made it clear his biggest concern is dealing with a looming budget shortfall.

ME: Summary of the state of the state address

05/21/2009

Unveiling a budget that for the first time in 35 years is smaller than the previous year, Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) called on lawmakers to create thousands of green jobs, launch new health care programs, and revamp the state’s groundbreaking school laptop program.

MD: Summary of the state of the state address

02/06/2009

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) raised eyebrows in his state of the state speech Jan. 29 by listing two reasons why he expected Maryland’s budget outlook to be brighter at the end of the legislative session than at the beginning: “Barack … Obama.”

MA: Summary of the state of the commonwealth address

01/21/2009

Closing the state’s $1 billion budget gap will be painful, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said, but he held out hope that the federal government will approve a stimulus package that will help put Bay Staters back to work.

MI: Summary of the state of the state address

02/14/2009

In her annual state of the state speech, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) tried to sell her vision of a revived Michigan economy built on the success of environmentally friendly industries. But in the meantime, Granholm spoke of a pared-down and shaken-up state government.

MN: Summary of the state of the state address

01/22/2009

Facing a legislature overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats, Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty delivered a state of the state address Jan. 15 chock-full of GOP standards: tax cuts for businesses, performance incentives for schools and streamlined local government.

MS: Summary of the state of the state address

01/14/2009

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) said education and health care — areas that escaped an initial round of budget cuts in November — will feel the pain this next time around.

MO: Summary of the state of the state address

01/29/2009

First year Gov. Jay Nixon (D) offered a plan Jan. 27 to balance the state's budget through a combination of spending reductions, job cuts and using anticipated money from the federal economic stimulus plan.

MT: Summary of the state of the state address

02/13/2009

In a state that is faring much better than most in this recession, Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer called for reduced business taxes, incentives for the film industry and pay raises for teachers, in his Jan. 28 state of the state address.

NE: Summary of the state of the state address

01/17/2009

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) targeted taxes, education, state spending and protecting vulnerable state residents in his Jan. 15 state of the state address.

NH: Summary of the state of the state address

03/12/2009

Facing a $500 million projected revenue shortfall over two years, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) proposed spending cuts in nearly every sector of state government. The governor asked the Democratic-led legislature in his Feb. 12 budget address to “re-think everything state government does.”

NV: Summary of the state of the state address

01/22/2009

In a speech before the Democratic-controlled Legislature Jan. 15, Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) rejected tax increases and instead proposed dramatic cuts to education and state workers’ salaries — including his own — as a way for struggling Nevada to bring its spending in line with revenues. The governor said his new budget is $2.2 billion smaller than the one he introduced two years ago.

NJ: Summary of the state of the state address

01/14/2009

Facing a tough re-election fight in November, Gov. Jon Corzine (D) departed from the blunt assessments he has delivered in past state of the state speeches to focus instead on his administration’s accomplishments.

NM: Summary of the state of the state address

01/29/2009

Hours after President Barack Obama was sworn in on Jan. 20, Gov. Bill Richardson (D) asked the Legislature to take action on the state’s financial crisis but also to embrace his proposals for alternative energy, education, health care, ethics reform and rights for domestic partners.

NY: Summary of the state of the state address

01/07/2009

Facing a “a historic economic challenge” not seen since Great Depression, New York Gov. David Paterson (D) Jan. 7 called on Congress to enact a large fiscal stimulus package by the end of January, while asking lawmakers to expand health care coverage at the state level.

NC: Summary of the state of the state address

03/18/2009

North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) called for an increase in education funding, despite the state’s $3 billion budget gap, in her March 9 state of the state address.

ND: Summary of the state of the state address

01/07/2009

Gov. John Hoeven (R) is one of the few state leaders around the country with a budget surplus. In his Jan. 6 state of the state speech, he called for boosting spending on local schools, state colleges and universities, child-care subsidies and the health insurance program for children from low income families.

OH: Summary of the state of the state address

02/14/2009

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) announced his long-awaited proposals for overhauling the state’s education system during his state of the state speech Jan. 28.

OK: Summary of the state of the state address

03/16/2009

Though Oklahoma faces a $600 million budget hole, Gov. Brad Henry (D) urged lawmakers to resist the temptation to raid the state’s rainy day fund.

OR: Summary of the state of the state address

01/14/2009

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) delivered a somber state of the state speech to the Democratic-controlled Legislature Jan. 12, warning of a prolonged “winter of economic discontent” and pushing new spending as a way forward.

PA: Summary of the state of the state address

02/06/2009

Pennsylvania has far too many school districts and local governments, Gov. Ed Rendell (D) told the politically divided General Assembly in his executive budget address Feb. 4. Consolidation, Rendell said, would help the state save key funds during an economic crisis.

RI: Summary of the state of the state address

02/18/2009

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) warned the Democratic-controlled General Assembly that the state’s economic condition is “more fragile, more perilous” than last year.

SC: Summary of the state of the state address

01/16/2009

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), who has clashed with the Republican-controlled Legislature in the past over what he saw as its reckless spending, told lawmakers Jan. 14 that with the recession the state needed to rein in spending.

SD: Summary of the state of the state address

01/28/2009

Gov. Mike Rounds (R) said Jan. 12 he would balance the state budget with spending cuts but not tax increases. He did, however, call for eliminating certain sales tax exemptions and raising fees.

TN: Summary of the state of the state address

02/18/2009

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) told lawmakers the federal stimulus package would not be “a panacea or silver bullet” for the state’s economic troubles and that major cuts would still be needed.

TX: Summary of the state of the state address

01/29/2009

Gov. Rick Perry, saying Texas is “in better shape than most other states,” proposed freezing college tuition rates, expanding job training, beefing up anti-gang efforts and increasing energy incentives including a $5,000 payment to people who buy plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

UT: Summary of the state of the state address

01/28/2009

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) surprised members of the Republican-dominated Legislature when he announced in his state of the state speech Jan. 27 that he would reinstate up to $3.9 billion in road projects that were put on hold over budget concerns in November.

VT: Summary of the inaugural address

01/29/2009

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) called for an overhaul of how the state funds education in his fourth inaugural address Jan. 8 before a Democratic-controlled legislature. His ideas included a freeze on school spending next year and possibly merging the University of Vermont and the Vermont State College system.

VA: Summary of the state of the state address

01/24/2009

Gov. Tim Kaine (D), who this month was appointed to head the Democratic National Committee, emphasized environmental preservation and job creation in his Jan. 14 address to Virginia’s politically split legislature.

WA: Summary of the state of the state address

01/22/2009

Fresh from winning re-election in November, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) challenged lawmakers in the Democratic-held Legislature to step up to the challenge of the nation’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the worst state budget crisis in history.

WV: Summary of the state of the state address

02/14/2009

In West Virginia, one of the few states experiencing economic growth and low unemployment rates, Gov. Joe Manchin (D) said he will plan for tougher economic times ahead by freezing state workers’ salaries.

WI: Summary of the state of the state address

02/14/2009

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) struck a somber note in his state of the state address Jan. 29 as he described how the national economic downturn has hurt Wisconsin residents.

WY: Summary of the state of the state address

01/16/2009

Wyoming, which so far has avoided the dire fiscal straits facing more than 40 other states, typically enters a recession late — “and that pattern is being repeated in Wyoming today,” Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) warned lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Legislature in his state of the state speech Jan. 14.

Governors' state of the state speeches archive

Stateline.org has archived the full text of the governors' state of the state addresses since 2000. Including links to official audio and video recordings of the addresses when available.

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